Will County Grants Extensions for Seven Solar and Commercial Projects Amid Permitting Delays

Will County Land Use & Development Committee Meeting | March 5, 2026

Article Summary: The Will County Land Use and Development Committee approved a slate of extensions for seven previously authorized zoning cases, giving developers in Peotone, Joliet, Wilmington, and Monee more time to navigate federal tax policy changes and secure final building permits.

Zoning Extension Key Points:

• Trajectory Energy Partners received a third extension for a Peotone solar farm (SEXT-26-001) due to delays caused by recent federal renewable tax credit changes.

• Alexander Norbertus Kuypers received a second extension (SEXT-26-002) for a Peotone construction sales business, passing in a 5-1 split vote.

• Four solar projects in Joliet and Monee townships managed by Madison Energy and Nexamp received extensions as they finalize state and local permits.

The Will County Land Use and Development Committee on Thursday, March 5, 2026, cleared a backlog of administrative hurdles, approving extensions for seven major zoning projects that have been stalled by federal red tape and interagency permitting delays.

The most heavily discussed extension involved SEXT-26-001, a third extension request for Prairie Solar LLC (Trajectory Energy Partners) regarding a previously approved solar farm on West Kennedy Road in Peotone Township.

Matt Kapinsky, representing Trajectory Energy, explained that the project was derailed by recent sweeping changes to federal renewable energy tax policies.

“The federal tax credits that have been in place for a very long time were repealed and they were set under sort of a phase-out schedule,” Kapinsky explained. “It took, after that passage, some time for just about every financing party in the entire country to get comfortable with how that was going to shake out in terms of when they were going to be eligible, how they were going to potentially procure equipment, and get equipment safe-harbored.”

The committee unanimously granted the 180-day extension, extending the special use permit through August 8, 2026.

The committee also reviewed SEXT-26-002, a second extension for Alexander Norbertus Kuypers to operate a construction sales and services business at 11233 W. Kennedy Road in Peotone. Staff noted the applicant is merely waiting on the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to issue a final site development permit.

While the extension passed 5-1, Board Member Judy Ogalla voted against it. “Just the proximity of this to residential areas… there’s three or four houses right there. Because of that, I’m going to be a no,” Ogalla stated.

The committee subsequently issued unanimous extensions for the following five solar energy facilities:

• SEXT-26-003: A first extension for New Energy Equity (Wild Cat Solar 3) at State Route 53 and S. 216th Avenue in Wilmington.

• SEXT-26-004: A second extension for Madison Energy (formerly Dart Farms) at Cherry Hill Road and US 52 in Joliet Township.

• SEXT-26-005: A second extension for Madison Energy at Cherry Hill Road and W. Schweitzer Road in Joliet Township.

• SEXT-26-006: A first extension for Nexamp (formerly Dralle Sun LLC) on the north side of Dralle Road, west of I-57 in Monee Township.

• SEXT-26-007: A first extension for Nexamp (formerly Dralle Sun 2 LLC) southeast of S. Ridgeland Avenue and West Dralle Road in Monee Township.

Representatives for both Madison Energy and Nexamp confirmed they have executed agreements with the Will-South Cook Soil & Water Conservation District to ensure native, pollinator-friendly plantings are installed at their respective sites.